FanSpeak June20

Memo to coaches: Call

I ALWAYS wondered why small schools never got the attention they deserved. A lot of the time we would blame the newspaper, but this has been an enlightening year for me because I have found out that the majority of time when our games were not in the paper was not the paper's fault; it was the coach's fault. They did not call the games into the paper for some reason or another. All students who go out for any type of sports deserve all the recognition they can get. It is hard to dedicate yourself to your academic work and practicing every day after school. Then when it comes to letting the community know, the coaches forget to call in the game, wait too late to call or forget to go the conference meetings. I thought this was part of their jobs. I would be willing to bet that they did not get paid any less for not doing these things, which are part of their jobs. It is sad that the student-athlete has to pay for this lack of commitment.

Race track needs support

I SEE where the Benton auto racing track has closed again due to small crowds, which have created financial problems for the current promoter and the promoter from last year. It is a shame the communities in the area have not supported this facility. The promoter from last year worked very hard trying to get people into the grandstands and it left him and his family in financial ruin, and this one this year has done the same. People just have not supported this place in the past four years. The drivers have been there but not the fans, and the fans are the ones a race track must have to be successful. Benton is done for now and might not open up again.

Can you hear me now?

IT CERTAINLY is a sad time for the Jackson school district. We had a successful and excellent coach in Coach Kiehne. His record of 22-5 should have meant something. When people came out to support Coach Kiehne at the board meeting, they pretended to listen to those parents and then the same night hired a new basketball coach. What a slam. The board may have listened to only a few people before making the decision to oust Kiehne, but many will get the chance to speak up and vote no in November if the bond issue is on the ballot. No Kiehne, no bond issue.

Jackson had two aces

THIS IS for Marty Mishow. I'm a great fan of Jackson High School baseball, and I don't miss a single game. Your article on Jason Meystedt and the Jackson American Legion was great, but please note that Tyler Beussink was also one of the starting pitchers for Jackson HighSchool with a 5-2 record and a 2.69 ERA.